Boat



Nov. 17, 1959 R. A. MCDERBY BOAT Filed March 8, 1957 INVENTOR Richard A. M Derby ATTORNEY United "States Patent BOAT Richard A. McDerby, Denison, Tex.

Application March 8, 1957, Serial No. 644,821 1 3 Claims. (Cl. 9-6) A further object is to provide a transom, of the type described above, which provides a maximum internal free area at the stern of the boat by obviating need for angle or knee braces between the transom and the keel stringers of the boat. I

A still further object is to provide a transom having a panel on which an outboard motor may easily be mounted and which is slightly flexible to cushion or absorb shock and torsional forces imparted thereto by the motor as it drives the boat through the water.

Another object is to provide a transom which is easily manufactured from a minimum number of components, which is relatively rigid around its side and bottom edges but resiliently flexible centrally.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the reading of the following description of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the exterior of the stern of a boat provided with the transom embodying I the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the interior of the stern of a boat having the transom shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is front view of the transom;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a front view of one of the side stress blocks of the transom; and

Figure 6 is a view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Referring now to the drawing, the transom '10 includes a transom panel 11 made preferably of marine plywood or other substance capable of withstanding large forces applied thereto, as by an outboard motor mounted thereon, and possessing a slight flexibility so as to cushion or absorb shock and torsional or twisting forces applied thereto by the outboard motor. The transom 10 also includes a left stress block 12, a right stress block 13 and a bottom stress block 14 which abut the inner marginal surfaces of the transom panel and are secured thereto by waterproof or water-resistant glue 'or bonding agents, or other suitable means, and may be reinforced by screws 15. The stress blocks 12, 13 and 14 have outer edge surfaces 16, 17 and 18, respectively, which are curved to conform to the configuration of the sides 19 and 20 2,912,705 Patented Nov. 17, 1959 ice 2 and the bottom 21, respectively, of the boat at the stern of the boat and which abut the internal stern portions of the sides and bottom. The sides and bottom of the boat are rigidly secured to the stress blocks by two rows of screws 22.

The outer edge surfaces 23 and 24 and the bottom edge surface 25 of the transom panel are also curved to conform to the configuration of the sides 19 and 20 and the bottom 21, respectively, of the boat and also abut internal stern portions of the sides and bottom. The side and bottom of the boat are rigidly secured to the transom panel by a row of screws 27.

The bottom surface of the stern portions of the decking 28 and 29 abut the top surfaces 30 and 31 of the side stress blocks 12 and 13, respectively, and also abut the top surfaces 33 and 34, respectively, of the transom panel 11. The decking is secured to the side stress block and to the transom palen by screws 35.

The bottom of the boat is provided with the usual longitudinally extending keel and stringers 36 whose rear ends abut the inner surface of the bottom stress block and are also secured thereto by screws 37.

Thus it will be seen that the stress blocks, which are preferably made of mahogany or other material of great strength, and the transom panel are very firmly secured to the decking sides and bottom of the boat.

The side and bottom stress blocks abut and are secured only to marginal internal surfaces of the transom panel so that the portion 40 of the transom panel between the edges 41, 42 and 43 is free to flex to any extent permitted by its inherent flexibility. At the same time, the

stress blocks provide great rigidity to the transom at its sides and bottom so that the decking, sides and bottom of the boat are secured to a rigid structure having little or no flexibility, as is desirable to prevent movement therebetween and consequent leaks.

It will now be apparent that the transom 10 provides a large clear internal surface to be engaged by the usual outboard motor mounting means and that no angle or knee braces are needed between the transom and the keel stringers so that a. maximum amount of usuable internal bottom or floor area is available at the stern ofthe boat. p I

It will also be apparent that the transom 10 has side and bottom portions which afford. great rigidity due to the provision of the side and bottom stress blocks rigidly secured to the transom panel and an inner portion provided by the transom panel portion 40 between the side stress blocks 12 and 13 and above the bottom stress block 14 which possesses a slight flexibility to accommodate or cushion shocks and twisting or torsional forces applied to the transom by the motor as it propels the boat.

It will also be apparent that the side and bottom stress blocks serve as reinforcing and rigidifying means for side and bottom marginal areas of the transom panel while permitting slight flexing of the area 40 of the transom panel.

It will also be now aparent that the boat transom illustrated and described is simple in construction, requires no knee or angle braces, and is relatively light in weight.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of the construction illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention. 3

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A boat transom comprising: a panel of slightly flexible substance and having side and bottom edges of a conformation corresponding to the internal configuration of a boat at the stern thereof; and stress block means of rigid substance abutting and rigidly secured to marginal side and bottom portions of the inner surface of the panel and having side and bottom edges also conforming to the internal configuration of the boat at the stern thereof, said side and bottom edges of said stress block means being disposed to abut and to be rigidly secured to adjacent side and bottom portions of the boat at the stern thereof, said stress block means having a bottom intermediate stress block section and a pair of spaced substantially vertically extending side stress block sections extending outwardly and then upwardly at opposite ends of said intermediate stress block section, said side stress block sections each having a lower portion extending outwardly from said bottom stress block section, an upper portion spaced above said lower portion and a central portion integral with said upper and lower portions, each of said central portions having an inner side edge curving upwardly and inwardly to said upper portion and curving downwardly and inwardly to said lower portion, said upper portion having inner side edges curving first upwardly and inwardly and then upwardly and outwardly whereby the lower portions and the central portions of said sections are spaced farther apart than the upper portions thereof and a lower portion of said panel is free to flex resiliently above said bottom section and below said upper portions between said central portions.

2. A boat transom comprising: a panel of slightly flexible substance and having side and bottom edges of a conformation corresponding to the internal configuration of a boat at the stern thereof; and stress block means of rigid substance abutting and rigidly secured to marginal side and bottom portions of the inner surface of the panel and having side and bottom edges also conforming to the internal configuration of the boat at the stern thereof, said side and bottom edges of said stress block means being disposed to abut and to be rigidly secured to adjacent side and bottom portions of the boat at the stern thereof, said stress block means having a bottom intermediate stress block section and a pair of spaced substantially vertically extending side stress block sections extending outwardly and then upwardly at opposite ends of said intermediate stress block section, said side stress block sections each having a lower portion extending outwardly from said bottom stress block section, an upper portion spaced above said lower portion and a central portion integral with said upper and lower portions, each of said central portions having an inner side edge curving upwardly and inwardly to said upper portion and curving downwardly and inwardly to said lower portion, said upper portion having inner side edges curving first upwardly and inwardly and then upwardly and outwardly whereby the lower portions and the central portions of said sections are spaced farther apart than the upper portions thereof and a lower portion of said panel is free to flex resiliently above said bottom section and below said upper portions between said central portions, said panel being of plywood.

3. In a boat, a boat transom comprising: a panel of slightly flexible substance and having side and bottom edges of a confirmation corresponding to the internal configuration of a boat at the stern thereof; and means of rigid substance abutting and rigidly secured to marginal side and bottom portions of the inner surface of the panel and having outer side and bottom edges also conforming to the internal configuration of the boat at the stern thereof, said outer side and bottom edges of said means of rigid substance abutting and being rigidly secured to side and bottom portions of the boat at the stern thereof, said means of rigid substance having a bottom intermediate section and a pair of spaced substantially vertical side sections at opposite ends of said intermediate section, said side sections having lower portions extending inwardly to the bottom section, inwardly convergent upper portions spaced above said lower portions and central portions integral with said upper and lower portions, said central portions having inner side edges curving convergently upwardly to said upper portions and curving convergently downwardly to said lower portions, said upper portions having inner side edges curving upwardly first convergently and then divergently whereby the lower and central portions of said sections are spaced farther apart than the upper portions thereof and the lower portion of said panel is free to flex resiliently above said bottom section and between said side sections below said upper portions thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,392,834 Clement Jan. 15, 1946 2,654,102 Trees et al. Oct. 6, 1953 2,777,412 Kiekhaefer Jan. 15, 1957 2,778,035 Tykwinski Jan. 15, 1957 

